Kim Leblanc (CA)

Kim Leblanc (CA)

I purchased my first dog, a Siberian Husky male in 1973. He, fortunately for us, was of good enough quality to become our first champion and sired our first litter. That was the beginning of Snowmist Siberians. My timing could not have been better for getting involved in this breed as many of the most famous kennels and their founders were still in existence.

My mom and I had a short-lived trial with Alaskan Malamutes and decided they were not for us. But the adventure with other breeds continued and we enjoyed a Newfoundland and a few Salukis. During this time I handled many different breeds. In 1980 my husband brought American Foxhounds into the picture, I still have 3 of them today along with the Siberians. I am still actively showing and breeding on a small scale. My kennel (Snowmist Siberians) has been highly successful in Canada and around the world. Our dogs have topped the conformation charts over the years but 2013 brought multi BIS winners in Canada, the USA, Thailand and Russia! One of the big highlights for 2013 was having litter brothers Seeker and Fizzy score multiple BIS wins. Fizzy also scored #1 Siberian in the USA all systems and won the Group at the WDS in Salzburg, Austria.

My late husband and I competed in mostly sprint sled dog races throughout Ontario as well as races in Quebec, New York, Michigan and Ohio. Our teams were competitive at both open breed races and purebred races winning our fair share of awards at both. One year we even tested our sprint dogs at the Marmora Sled Dog Derby in the 60 mile race, finishing 4th out of 40 plus teams. In the fall of 1996 family and business commitments forced us to retire. While racing, we actively participated in the Canadian Kennel Club’s Sled Dog Certificate Program earning over 90 titles including many SDU's. We also earned several ISDRA medals over the years. In 1993 and 1994 the Siberian Husky Club of Canada awarded our lead dog Northstar’s Snowmist Birch C.D., S.D.U. the Ward Young Trophy for successfully competing in sled dog racing, showing and obedience within one club year. This was the first time any dog had won this award in back to back years.

I am a graduate of the canine course “Dogs, A Hobby or Profession” created by the late Casey Gardiner. Included in this educational program was a course on structure that taught structure based on a measuring process. I have used this process to improve my own knowledge, to help others understand what they see and to evaluate litters of puppies and grown dogs. I have conducted all breed measuring clinics as well as seminars on this topic.

Today I am a licensed All Breed Canadian Kennel Club judge. I began my judging career officially in 1994. Since that time I have had the honour of judging in my own country (Canada), Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Columbia, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States of America. Specialties I’ve had the pleasure of judging specialties that include the Rocky Mountain Siberian Husky Club, the Belgian Siberian Husky Club, Saint Bernard Club of Ontario, Great Pyrenees Club of Central Ontario, Alaskan Malamute Club of NSW Inc., The Siberian Husky Club of NSW Inc., the first ever back to back Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain Championship shows, the National Specialty for Nordic Breeds (Spain), the Briard Club of America, Inc. Regional Specialty, the Nordic Breed Club of Lithuania and the 8e Reunion Nationale d’Elevage du Siberian Husky France just to name a few.